Now that the summer is over and the crowds have subsided a bit along the New England coast, I decided to take a ride up the NH seacoast and into York, ME for lunch. Bernie and I did this ride annually for many years. Lot's of good memories of Bernie honking his air horns and screaming at people in traffic at various points in our rides. Mostly in Newburyport. It's not the same without him. He's currently not riding. I invited Gary, but he wasn't able to make it.
I left the house around 9:30 for the ride up 495 N to Salisbury, MA. I was dreading the 495 leg because it can really suck. This morning it didn't. But on the way home it did, in the usual locations (Lawrence, I-93, route 3, route 2 and I-290 interchanges). I'm talking feet down dead stopped on the highway. Oh well. Got home safe.
I got on 1A N in Salisbury and rode it up through Portsmouth to route 1 in ME. The first stop was Hampton Beach. I parked in the MC parking spots that Bernie showed me years ago. There were people strolling the strip and on the beach enjoying the sunshine. The temperature was only 69 degrees at that point. It warmed to about 80 later in the day.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hmS4dS6eEcPDkurh6https://photos.app.goo.gl/tZnr19AyPYDzv4pu9The pictures don't show that it was low tide and that there was a lot of seaweed washed up. It was quite aromatic along parts of the route, if you know what I mean.
It looks like NHDOT has added to and/or spruced up the turn-outs along 1A. I pulled into one and took a picture.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/C7EDUFaFFpkCKBvx6I took the route 1 bridge into Kittery and continued on route 1 north to 1A north to York Beach. I stopped for a moment to take this distant picture of Nubble Light. I didn't visit the Light as road work is being done in that area.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aXcPbWSHJcV3ADkg7Bernie and I usually eat lunch at the Lobster Cove right on 1A with a great view of the beach. It was very crowded today, so I passed on it. I continued further north into York looking for a decent place to eat along the beach. I didn't see one. So I headed on 1A south to a little village and got a steak and cheese sub for lunch. It was OK. I've had better.
After lunch I took 1A S to 1 S to the route 1 Bypass. That draw bridge is very impressive. From the Bypass I took a left a light with a sign that said "To Beaches". This brought me back to 1A so I could ride it south down the seacoast. Beautiful! I think the views are better traveling southbound.
Once I got to the Mass line, I took a right onto route 286 and stopped at Brown's Lobster Pound for a rest break prior to getting back on the highway for the long slog home.
Was a great day for riding. Total was 216 miles. Glad I was able to dip my toes into Maine before the riding season ends.
